Appliance for use by anaesthetists



Dec. 29 1925.

G. N. HElN APPLIANCE FOR USE BY AN/ESTHETISTS Filed May 16, 1924 2:7 626502 12 eye,

Patented Dec. 29, 1925 UNITED STATES GEORGE N. HEIN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

APPLIANCE FOR USE BY ANESTHETISTS.

Application filed May is, 1924.

To all whomit may concern: Be it known that I, GEORGE lT. HEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at city andcounty of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented certain new and'useful Improvements in Appliances for use by Anaesthetists, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Inthe performing of surgical operations in oral and nasal cavities under a general anaesthetic-especially one of nitrous oxide an'doxygen, gas is unsatisfactory due to the inability to control the supply of air which the patient may take i. e. that supply exclusive of the amount given by the anaesthetists. This condition is occasioned by the patient being able to breathe both through the nasal passage and through the mouth, and necessitates the administering of what may be termed a heavy anaeesthetic, such as ether, for a comparatively light or 7 minor operation.

The present invention relates to an apparatus designed for controlling the respiratory passages by blockingthe esophagus and tracheal orifices from the oral and nasal cavities and establishing artificial communication with the respiratory organs of the patient through this blocking means, en abling the administering of an anaesthetic through the artificial passage provide-d. Also as a barrier against foreign bodies or pus laden mucus being inhaled or swallowed during the operation. By the use of the present apparatus, considerable saving of anaesthetics and all volatile anaesthetics may be had, at the same time enabling an eificient control of the administering of the anaesthetics,

By theuse of the apparatus the oral and nasal cavities may be separately blocked from the pharyngeal cavities and esophagus and tracheal orifices, or the anaesthetic may be administered through the nose, the only desire being to blockthe mouth to prevent foreign bodies and secretion from entering the respiratory passage when the operating field is confined to the oral cavity only.

The invention consists in providing a damming member of relatively soft yieldable material, preferably expansible, to conform to the size and shape of the orifice or cavity to be blocked, and preferably to a device having a variable diameter in both circumference and cross section, and in mounting the dam as to enable the same to be Serial No. 713,753.

readily positioned for use when expanded to engage the walls dammed, and when it is desired to remove the same, to enable the pressure to bereleasedpermittingthe device to be withdrawn from the cavity instantly.

Theinvention consists further in provid ing an apparatus having. an orifice extending in rear of the dammember, and afford ing a connection or communication between the rear of the dam member and the atmosphere, enabling the supply of an anaesthetic therethrough.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the ac companying drawings, and set forth in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrlficing any of the advantages of the invention.

To more fully comprehend the invention. reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating in dotted lines the projection of the periphery of the damming member beyond the peripheries; of the confining walls.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts, the numeral 1 indicates an elongated tubular body of relatively small diameter, the same preferably consisting of a small rubber or metallic tube, the passage 2.in which is open at its opposite ends as at 3 and 4. One end of the body 1 is of substantially bell mouthed or flanged structure 5 affording a wall projecting radially, from the end of the body 1. The opening 4 is disposed ofi center in the wall 5, as is clearly indicated in Figure 3. The opposite end of the body 1 is provided with a handle 6 and embracing said body for frictional sliding movement thereon is a movable wall member 7 disposed in opposing relation to the wall or flange 5. In e1evation the member 7 corresponds substantially to 'the configuration of the member 5 except with its curved face 8 disposed facing the curved face 9 of the member 5. From the wall member 7 extends an arm 10 preferably in close contact with the surface of the member 1 as in Figure 1, and the arm at its rear carries a handle 11 lying adjacent to the handle 6 on member 1.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, there is positioned between the walls 5 and '7 surrounding the portion of the tubular member lying therebetween a suitable elastic member 12 preferably of ring forma tion, and the embodiment illustrated is adapted for inflation when it is desired to expand the same, as in dotted lines 13, to torce its periphery a greater distance beyond the perlpheral edges of the walls 5 and 'Z. Communicating with the interior of the inflatable elastic member 12 is a tubular connection 1 t preferably extending parallel with the members 1 and 10. and passing through apertures in the handles 11 and 6, which provide a support therefor. At the point of passage through the handles 11 and (5 the connection 14 is preferably of metallic structure 15, and to the end of the structure 15 is connected a hose 16 of an inflating bulb or member 1?, there being interposed between the bulb and hose 16 a relief valve18 of any well known structure.

While I have illustrated member 12 as an inflatable bladder. it is to be understood that any form of relatively soft elastic material capable of being projected beyond the peripheral edges of the walls 5 and 7 may be employed.

Vi hen in use, the pressure is released by the opening of valve 18, handles 11 and 6 are moved from each other and the appliance is inserted in the oral cavity of the patient. When the member 12 is in the de sired position, the handle 11 is moved from the handle 6 until such time as the periphery of the member 12 assumes the desired position. The member 12 is then inflated by the actuation of the bulb 17 until it projects arsufficient distance beyond the edges of the walls 5 and 7 and tightly engages the tissue walls against which it is to bear during the damming operation. When positioned for blocking the esophagus and tracheal orifices from the oral and nasal cavities, or blocking the oral cavity from other respiratory passages, the tube 2 provides an artificial breathing passage for the patient, and to the outer end of this tube may be attached the anaesthetic supply, controlled in any suitable manner for delivery to the patient, thus with the nasal cavity blocked oil", the tube 2 is the only means through which respiration. by the patient.

may be had, and therefore it is an easy mat ter to control the supply of gas and oxygen or other inhalation anmsthetic to the patient as desired. 1 claim:

'1. An apparatus for the described purpose comprising an inflatable means for positioning through the oral cavity for engaging the walls thereof to interrupt communication between the oral and nasal cavities and the esophagus and the tracheal orifices, and means comprising opposing wall members between which said inflatable means is posi tioned for limiting the distortion of said means in opposite directions with its periphery tree for distortion, and a tube extending laterally from said inflatable means and providing artificial breathing communication between the atmosphere and a point in rear of said means.

An apparatus for the described purpose comprising a tubular member flanged at one end, a flanged member cooperating with the tubular member with its flange movable to and from the flange of said tubular memher, and an elastic inflatable member projecting beyond the peripheries of the flange members and held therebetween, said flanged members affording confining walls for the sides of said elastic member.

An apparatus for the described purpose comprising opposing wall members movable to and from each other, an elastic inflatable member held therebetween, with its periphery free to expand beyond the peripheries of the wall surface, and a tubular support for said wall members extending at substantially right angles from the face thereof.

4. An apparatus for the described purpose comprising an elastic inflatable member, confining wall surfacesmovable to and from each other and between which said elastic member is held with its periphery free to project beyond the peripheries of the wall members, and a tubular support mounting one confining wall and on which the other conhning wall slides, said support being formed of relatively rigid material.

in testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. GEORGE N. HEIN. 

